Holiday Wagon Rides at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates depart from the historic Ford Estate and tour the nearby old Edison Park neighborhood during the annual Edison & Ford Holiday Nights event. From December 21 – December 23 visitors can enjoy a wagon ride with Santa Claus and December 26 & 27 guests can ride with Thomas and Mina Edison. The cost is $5 for adults and $3 per children ages 12 and under. Visitors will be delighted with the meandering tour of the old neighborhood with the two stately French horses.

Edison & Ford Holiday Nights is an annual lighted event at the historic Estates of the two inventors. The event continues through January 2, 2010 (closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day).

Group rates for Edison & Ford Holiday Nights are available in advance by calling 239-334-7419. In addition to touring the 20 acres of beautifully decorated gardens, historic homes, Edison Lab and Museum, food and beverages are available for purchase on the river, there is nightly music in the Estates Heritage Gardens and Creative Cottage is open featuring area artists, authors and craftspeople for one-of-a-kind gifts.

Hiring an Interior Designer and how they can save you money.    column 2
So you’re considering  making  a substantial change to your home or office, whether it’s selecting new paint colors, changing furniture or remodeling a whole room.  I recently had a conversation with a friend of mine, Jim MacLean of MacLean Allen Design Group, about when and why to hire a designer.  

An established designer will be able to help you avoid making costly and stressful mistakes. He has undergone extensive training in the different elements of design, furniture styles, and the different effects of paint finishes and colors, and how our region’s seasonal changes can be affected  by color choices.  He will have proven sources that he has been using. These will include contractors and craftsmen that he already has a working relationship with.  Often he will be able to negotiate a lower price for the design elements that may even cover the cost of his fee.  

In choosing a designer ask your friends, especially if you admire their home, who they used. Check out local magazines and newspapers for pictures of rooms you think would work well for you. Check out their website. Then be ready with pictures you’ve been saving to show what you like.  Also chat with him to describe your lifestyle. The more information he has about you the better he can help you. While you are talking, see how well he listens to you and picks up on what you want.  He may have very good reasons why something you are hoping to achieve might not work but he should have an alternative that will work for you. If you’re not really sure of what you want  a thoughtful designer should be able to show you options and advise you on what will work best for your lifestyle. Relax and tell him about you and your tastes, your family and your pets.

   We all have budgets so be upfront about yours. No matter what your budget is he should be able to help you get the best value and quality. Perhaps your design plan can be worked so you can hire him to make you a plan that you can implement as you can afford it. He may be willing to spread portions of the design out over a period of time. Keep in mind that he will have access to  materials unavailable to the general public. He may be willing to negotiate his fees if you agree to buy through him so he gets a smaller commission and save you money that way.  Mr. MacLean’s firm donates services to charity auctions or fund raisers, so you can get a great discount and a tax deduction too!  January and February are the slowest months for home design and often you can get discounts on everything from design time to furniture and reupholstering.  Get everything spelled out in your contract so there are no surprises.  

Many stores also have design services for free if you purchase through the store.  Designers here may not be anything more than talented salespeople but check them out carefully and you may be happy with this level of design.  I often suggest  ASID or NWSID accredited designers because you are assured of a high level of competency, but many of the best I’ve worked with never got an interior design degree, or joined a Design Association.  For a long time Jean Jongeward set  the Seattle design style. I worked for  many years as  she designed her beautiful homes to be a quiet dramatic background for her client’s art collections. She would say “there’s a world of color in beige”, and her houses and furniture designs were usually shades of beige.  I can still walk into a house she designed and know it instantly.  There are also many ‘part time designers’ who are talented enough to have designed their own home beautifully.  They won’t have the connections an more experienced designer has but if you like what they did to their home they may be able to help you.  Be very cautious before you pay them that you are sure what you are getting.  Can they do a basic space plan and who are their craftspeople?   What are their sources? Do they use local craftspeople? It’s a good idea to use local craftsmen in case problems crop up they can be easily rectified.

Your designer should be able to ‘go green‘, listen to you and be aware of your needs and budget. He should be willing to work with you and be available to answer all your questions.  Don’t be afraid to move a  candy dish or picture.  I’ve seen clients carefully replace every item exactly where the designer placed it originally, because they rented taste and are afraid to move anything. There is no one-size-fits-all formula.   Hiring a designer is a gift you give yourself! Knowing exactly what you have when the project is finished allows you to relax and enjoy the process, and you will also save money on headache remedies!

Here’s wishing each and every one of you joy and peace in celebrating the winter holidays and a happy and prosperous New Year.  

E-mail me at askfran@mindspring.com  or check out my website at www.galleriefranzhiska.com

On Sunday, December 20, 2009, 4 PM – 7 PM at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates meet Estates Creative Cottage Artists and Authors for one of-a-kind gifts for the holiday season. The seasonal Creative Cottage is back again this year in the historic Edison Caretaker’s House with a wonderful group of local artists, authors and craftspeople.

Featured artists include:

• Photographer, Manfred Behr with work including hand painted boxes and photographs of the Estates Banyan tree

• Ceramic artist and painter, Augusta Crane featuring handcrafted bowls and sculptures of orchids, hibiscus and other tropical flowers and leaves

• Impressionist painter, Ellen Sheppard who has captured tropical south Florida and forgotten landscapes on canvas

• Painter, Marie Dyer who loves painting on found objects and her work includes furniture, floor cloths and rain barrels

• Metalwork artist, James DiGiorgio with specially designed pieces combining classic lines with modern design

• Jewelry artist, Anita Singh featuring earrings, necklaces and bracelets

• Virginia Harper, a self taught artist whose joyful work includes painted garden furniture, posts and other outdoor three dimensional painted creations.

• Karen Flanders with dazzling glass work, wearables and colorful three dimensional art in clay and multimedia

• Matlacha artist and gallery owner, Leoma Lovegrove who is known for her colorful iconic depiction of Florida themes and modern impressionism

• Painter, Pat Dunn with Florida landscapes and still life in impressionist style

• Norman Love, internationally known, award winning chocolatier who has created a special hand-crafted chocolate in honor of Thomas Edison

Featured authors include:

• Tom Smoot, Jr., The Edisons of Fort Myers

• John Sheppard, One Man’s Family in Early Fort Myers

• Doug MacGregor, Get Creative…Turn on the Bright Side of Your Brain

Estates Creative Cottage Artists and Authors will personalize artwork and books for a one of a kind gift and Estates Members will receive a 10% discount. Shoppers passes will be issued at the Estates ticket counter. Call 239-334-7419 for a list of participating artists.

The Estates is open daily from 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. The Estates was awarded the National Trust for Historic Preservation Award in 2008 and is an official project of “Save America’s Treasures” at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a Florida Historic Landmark and a National Register Historic Site. For additional information call 239-334-7419 or visit the web site at www.efwefla.org.

The Lehigh Valley Chapter of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen is proud to be producing our annual show, the Holiday Marketplace to be held this weekend Nov. 14-15 at the Swain School (1100 South 24 St., Allentown, PA).

This is an intimate show consisting of 30 fine craftsmen and artists working in a variety of media ranging from wood to jewelry and from glass to photography. What I really enjoy about this show is the laid-back environment and ability to spend time with each craftsperson and artist.

Holiday Marketplace is the perfect opportunity to get started on, or even finish, your holiday shopping in a low stress showplace.

November at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates is highlighted with the return of the Estates Edison Garden Market and Creative Cottage as well as a variety of other special programs throughout the month of November.  The November schedule of programs and events include:

• FREE Admission to Veterans and their Families, November 11

The Estates is offering free admission to United States Veterans and their families on November 11th.  Free admission includes a tour of the historic homes, botanical gardens, the Estates Museum and the Edison Research Lab.  Veterans must present a VA identification card or their DD214 papers to receive free admission. 

• Edison Ford Winter Estates Foundation 9th Annual Foundation Gala, November 6

The Edison & Ford Winter Estates and Sam Galloway, Jr., President of the Edison Ford Winter Estates Foundation are celebrating “Moments in Black & White.”  The Gala features a reception and private dinner on the grounds of the Ford Estate including live entertainment, silent and live auctions featuring items that represent a “piece of the past and treasures of today”.  Limited seating!  For more information contact the Edison Ford Winter Estates Foundation office at 239-274-2377.  The Edison Ford Winter Estates Foundation provides preservation and restoration support to the Edison & Ford Winter Estates, Inc.    

• New Volunteer Orientation,  November 10, 10 AM

Join Estates staff to learn about volunteer opportunities, Estates policies and general Museum information.  This is a mandatory training for all new Estates volunteers but potential volunteers are welcome.

• Docent Training, November 19, 9 AM

New Estates volunteers who are interested in becoming Edison & Ford porch, Lab and Museum docents, or leading a group tour of the Estates grounds must attend this mandatory meeting.

• Home School:  “Rocks, Minerals & Thomas Edison,” November 20, 1 PM – 3 PM

 Home schooled students and their parents can enroll in a half day of curriculum that follows the Florida Sunshine objectives for learning.  Home schoolers will learn about minerals and rocks including what Edison did with iron ore and Edison’s own concrete mixture.  The program follows the Lee County mandated program and addresses environmental science, history and reading SOLS.  Pre-visit curriculum materials will be mailed to registered families.  Registration required. Estates members $5; non members $15 (one adult, one child) additional $5 per child. 

• Estates Closed Thanksgiving Day, November 26, Open Friday, November 27
• Estates “Creative Cottage” Opens, November 27 – mid January

The seasonal Creative Cottage is back again in the historic Edison Caretaker’s House with a wonderful group of local artists, authors, craftspeople and chefs.  The “Creative Cottage” will be open 10 AM – 5 PM daily until December 11.  During the Estates Holiday event, “Edison & Ford Holiday Nights” hours will be extended to 9 PM.  Estates Members are FREE; a “shoppers pass” may be issued at the main ticket office to visit the “Creative Cottage”. Call 239-334-7419 for additional information. 

• Edison Garden Market, November 27, noon – 5 PM; November 28,  9 AM – 5 PM; November 29, 9 AM – 3 PM

The Edison Garden Market attracts plant vendors from throughout the state to sell unique plants, orchids, herbs, trees and garden merchandise.  The event also includes workshops, food sales, music and other activities.  The Market is a great event for family and friends on Thanksgiving weekend. The event is FREE to the public.

• Edison & Ford Holiday Nights, Holiday Party, December 10, 6 PM                                               

Kick off the holiday season with the first annual holiday party at the gloriously decorated homes and gardens of the Estates.  Guests will enjoy a special preview of the Estates annual event, food and beverages by the river, live music and much more.  Estates members, $50; non members $60.  To RSVP call 239-334-7419.

• Edison & Ford Holiday Nights, December 11 – January 2, 5:30 PM – 9 PM

The Estates holiday tradition continues with “Edison & Ford Holiday Nights,” southwest Florida’s 34 year annual event.  The winter homes of the Edison and Ford families will be seasonally decorated with the “favorite things” of the Edison and Ford families.  The Edison Botanic Lab and Estates Museum will be open every evening with special exhibits as well as nightly holiday performances by area students and groups.  Special discount nights available to Lee County Residents opening weekend (December 11 &12).  Group rates are available to groups of 20 or more people with advance reservations.  For more information call 239-334-7419.

Come out to our meeting tonight for an informative presentation on marketing your craft. Here is a description of the program from our Vice President – Del Morgan.

The “M” Word – Marketing! What exactly is that beast? And how does a one-person show do it all?

 This is a meeting and speaker you definitely do not want to miss! 

“Everything we do at Speak Easy is based on helping people better understand the communication process and how to use it to achieve their vision of success.”Join us as  Kerry Paterson, President of Speak Easy Communications, Inc. helps us each of us discover how to present our self and our art and craft to the world.  At this extremely informative meeting Kerry will cover key points and open our awareness about how to effectively use various forms of communication and other media that will get your products into the public eye!

Our meetings are open to the public and especially those interested in hand-made fine craft. Follow the link ( LV Chapter ) for directions and meeting time. Hope to see you!

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Join the Lehigh Valley Chapter of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen on Tuesday September 15, 2009, as we discuss how to get your artwork and fine crafts into local stores and galleries. The meeting will start at 7:30 p.m. in the basement of the Emmaus Moravian Church at 146 Main St., Emmaus, PA. After a brief business meeting we will have two local gallery owners talk with our members about how to expand their businesses beyond craft shows to reach people looking for fine art and craft at local establishments. Valerie Yurza, co-owner of Out of Our Hands in Emmaus, PA, will talk about how her store of fine handmade crafts selects the works that are on sale. She’ll also talk about the costs and contracts associated with displaying at Out of Our Hands. Ron Morris and Ken Jones of Mercantile Home, will also present information about their gallery located in Easton, PA. The duo curates specially themed shows every few months that involve a variety of artists from the East Coast. Their gallery also sells other art work that is not part of the current exhibit. More information about these stores can be found at www.outofourhands.com and www.mercantilehome.com. The meeting is free and open to the general public. Come and join us as we discuss new ways to get your fine handcrafts into the hands of buyers.

(Written by Susan Newquist)

A few pics from some of our vendors, Tupelo’s Made In America Arts & Craft Show at Building Blocks, 3725 Cliff Gookin, October 24,2009.

The Hebron Craft Fair will be held on the picturesque Hebron Common at the North End of Newfound Lake. Admission is free. Over 90 craftspeople will offer crafts. Children will enjoy poy rides and games. Lunch will feature homemade baked beans. A BBQ chicken dinner will be served in the evening.

The Lehigh Valley Chapter’s Susan Newquist (Redtail Designs Jewelry), is leading a workshop on Horse Hair Jewelry at the Museum of Indian Culture in Allentown, PA. The class will be held on Aug. 2, 2009 from 10:30am to 12:30pm and does require pre-registration. Contact the Museum at 610-797-2121 for more information or to sign up for the class.

Susan notes that “you will learn to create a beautiful adjustable hore hair bracelet from horse hair I bring or tail hair from your own horse”. You will also be able to choose from a variety of beads to finish off your bracelet. Contact Susan at Susan@Redtaildesigns.com for horse hair cleaning instructions (if you’re bring your own) and more information.

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At our next meeting of the Lehigh Valley Chapter of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen, we’ll be having some fun with scraps. You know, those bits and pieces of materials you don’t know what to do with? This will be an opportunity to test our creativity as we swap our scraps and explore new usages of our materials.

At our last meeting, our Vice President and Programs Chairman - Del Morgan, led a great discussion about writing biographies and artist/craftsman statements. This definitely got me thinking about my own.

Our Program Chairman leading discussion at LV Chapter meeting

 If you have an interest in craft or the business of craft, our meetings are a great place to be for both. We will be meeting on May 19 (third Tues. of the month), at the Moravian Church in Emmaus, PA at 7:30. Refreshments and good conversation are included. See the link on the right for our website for directions and more information.

Good Morning,
I am sending this idea out into the world for those who may be interested in creating community around traditional craft making.
Please view this new blog that I am sponsoring as a community outlet for creative expression

I would love feedback. Enjoy!
Alison

Alison Barrows-Young

Please pass this on to anyone else that you feel might be interested.

The Lehigh Valley Chapter’s  Spring Tea and Boutique is this Saturday, April 18. The event was listed in the In Your Town section of  The Morning Call yesterday (April 13). This is always a well received event and proceeds go to support our scholarship program. For more information, call Buffy Albright 610-966-4951.

The most important part of any organization is its people! The Lehigh Valley Chapter of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen is composed of highly creative and skilled designers, craftspeople, and artists. Our Chapter-Juried members uphold the required high standards for quality, originality, and style. Each Juried member brings their own vision and background to the pieces they create. To truly appreciate the work they make, it is important to know about the craftsperson themselves. Juried members from the Lehigh Valley Chapter will regularly be featured here along with their contact information so that you can follow up with your own questions or request a unique item as a gift or personal treasure.

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WOW or Works of Wyoming a product of the Wyoming Women’s Business Center and WyomingEntrepreneur.biz (aka Wyoming Small Business Development Center) has incubated this project for many years. And birthed WOW about a year ago. Please view our page ”About” to see what WOW provides for artists and craftspeople.

You will see in the coming weeks many posts on current activities and special projects that are developing. We encourage the Internet community to engage with us as we grow virtually!

So, I’ve been really looking around at what is still made in America, especially when it comes to Christmas things.  There isn’t much.  Which is bothering me — not just out of nostalgia — but because of losing on of our Holidays…to ports elsewhere.

Guess what?

Yesterday I found some candy canes that have been made here for a very long time.  I will be hanging these on the tree — next to the ornaments I found.

I had no idea of what the candy canes stood for, but they have a very long history.  You can read about that here at the Spangler Candy company.  A lot of the candy canes I saw were not made here — and on the front of their box is our flag, and the made in the USA mark.  Look for them!  If you plan to hang a few on your tree this year…

Then, I found some ornaments too.  The plain kind that are made of glass — from Nevada by the Holly Company.  The ones I got look very much like this picture — very old fashioned.  I only had about 3 ornaments that were glass balls — they were gifts from friends over the years — and it’s been ages since I bought an ornament — because I have a whole collection of my own — but — it was a statement I feel, this year, to buy those ornaments — strictly because they were made here.  There were four ruby colored plain glass balls — two were shiny — and two were satin matte finish.  I love them.  They don’t have a web page — but I have been getting lots and lots of searches for Christmas things made here and also how to make old fashioned Christmas things or what to do if you haven’t got much money.

Giving a gift of these ornaments to someone would come from the heart.  I got them in a crafts store.  While I was in there looking I noticed that almost NOTHING is made here anymore.  Very few of the fabrics.  There was some red and white felt — that was made of recycled plastic!  (It used to be wool!) — hmmmm…

I was going to make a snowflake pillow!  Oh well.  Not  a plastic one, I’m afraid.

We need to get back to NATURAL FIBERS!

Anyway, I found PAPER DOILIES! Made here!

These are very symbolic for me because they represent my grandmother.  We spent a tremendous amont of time in my early childhood in places like the Bullock’s Wilshire Tearoom.  Having cakes on doilies just like this.

The back of these packages of doilies has this entirely retro “princess hat” you could make for a party.  It was so old fashioned and charming…it took me back.

Sort of to the film Fantasia, in a way.

Anyway, you can make fudge or cookies –  for a present — and present it on those doilies…

You could.

Or you could put a little something up in a pretty festooned jar like this, from Design Sponge…

Like these savory spiced nuts…

Being Green for Christmas means just using your imagination.  I love glass jars, over plastic jars.  And besides, look how fab they look at that site above…

Anyway.  I’m really sick of the fact that Christmas isn’t made here…

Even the Pillsbury-doughboy ornament was from overseas which?  Seemed unusual to me — unusual.  That seems like an AMERICAN ICON of sorts?

I know what I will buy, and what I won’t.

I swear, I’m boycotting.  Except for here or Western Europe.  I am.  I want to help these countries.  On the BBC news the other night France has problems like we have here.  Not good.

There was fab yarn in the store from places like Italy, and a new craft “felting” that was made here — the wool anyway.  You could maybe crochet a little something?

The batting for quilts was made here — and it’s cotton!  That was totally fab!

Anyway, I’m thinking of all those big fabric mills that used to be in the South.

What happened?

And, it would be good to do American crafts as a small business here.  They could be marketed in the web.

Here is how to make a SAND CANDLE! (If that isn’t 70’s…) Wow!

Here is a picture from England of one of them…If you wanted to get an English gift — you could get some here, at Home Farm and Candle.

Support small artisanal firms if you can.  Here and there!  Craftspeople are the best, all over the world…

Warm!

Each weekend in October, artists and craftspeople in a different area of San Francisco open their doors so that we all can visit them where they create, and see their work. A local nonprofit, ArtSpan, organizes this huge undertaking, the country’s first and largest open studios program. There are so, so many great things to see!

One of my favorite places to visit open studios is the Hunters Point Shipyard, the decommissioned naval institution whose barracks have been taken over by about 200 artists. They call themselves “America’s largest artist’s colony”!

This year (2008), there’s an open studios weekend (November 1 & 2) devoted just to this special place.

[And if you're around this coming weekend, November 25 and 26, you can visit studios in Financial District, North Beach, Potrero Hill, Russian Hill, SOMA, Tenderloin, Bayview, Excelsior.]

There are free downloadable maps of studios on Artspan’s website. See you out there!

FELTING AND EMBELLISHING COURSES Check out my new workshops page for all the information and to book your place at the upcoming Sigrid Bannnier, Mahmet Girgic and Sheila Smith workshops.  Both Sigrid’s and Sheila’s dates are confirmed and places are limited so please move quickly if you want to reserve a spot!

Over the last few days I have made a couple of new style scarves using some pencil roving that I bought from Wollknoll.  The merino actually costs quite a bit more per kg when bought this way but more than makes up for this extra expense by the time saved when laying out the wool.  I am really looking forward to getting stuck into things this week, it will actually be the first week in my new found career that I can devote totally to felting.

Yesterday I attended an information day in Tallaght organised and run by the Crafts Council explaining an initiative they organise titled ‘Craft in the Classroom’.  This is an excellent scheme offering to partner artists and craftspeople with schools and teachers in primary schools.  The selected schools offer residencies to the selected artists/crafts people and then they work together with the children to explore and create some amazing art work across the various disciplines.  I am definitly going to apply to the scheme and try to obtain a residency, it would be a  great way to expand my practice and I would really enjoy working with young children and see what ideas develop from there.  This year the residencies will take place in either the West Dublin area or in Co. Leitrim, watch this space to see how I progress!

Over the years I’ve been asked by my fellow artists for advice on selling their work wholesale. I’ve finally typed most of the info I know up, and hope it may now answer some of your questions about getting into the wholesale market. I personally don’t sell much wholesale anymore, except for a few accounts. I began to get burnt out on being my own salesperson AND manufacturer of cards. I’m back to actually painting again! 

Who do I sell my work to, & how do I find them?

It’s important to research the type of stores that will sell your work. Take some time to begin with driving around locally and grab business cards for stores that sell items similar to what you’re selling. It is very important to find out who the BUYER for the store is. Many larger stores like Powell’s or Made in Oregon have buyers for specific kinds of products; (i.e. card or paper buyer, soap and lotion buyer, glass buyer, etc.). Try to schedule a short appointment to meet with the buyer, as they are often very busy. If you can’t get an appointment, at least send any materials or direct any phone calls to the correct buyer’s attention. Look in the phone book and online under what kind of stores you’re targeting; Gift Shops, Card Shops, Book Stores, New Age Shops, etc.

Let them find YOU.

A GREAT way to really find out about what goes on in the wholesale world is to do a wholesale trade show. This is a show that only licensed buyers from stores can attend. The idea is that they come to place orders, not simply buy a few things like a retail show. Some of these shows however, do offer “cash & carry” which means you are allowed to sell product there, in addition to taking wholesale orders.  All you need to bring to your booth is a nice, clear display of  “samples” of what you’re selling. They  place orders for their store to be shipped or delivered. Western Exhibitors puts on their big shows in Portland (PGS), Seattle (SGS), San Francisco (International Gift Fair and Cash & Carry), and the International New Age Trade Show (INATS) in Denver. The Portland Gift Show is held every January and Every June, and is a great way to start – because it is the smallest, cheapest,  and least overwhelming of all the shows. They offer discounted booth spaces for new artisan vendors that for a fraction of the regular cost. They even have a special area for these vendors called “Artisan’s Avenue”.  For more information go to their website at: www.weshows.com or call: 415.447.3223.

What do I need?

*In order to start your business, If you haven’t already, you have to register as a business with the state, and open a BUSINESS checking account. You can’t really hide from Big Brother anymore when selling goods to other businesses. All the information you need for that can be found at: filinginoregon.com. A& E (Arts & Entertainment) Tax services are a  GREAT place to bring your taxes to, and they understand the often unorganized minds of artists. www.aetaxservice.com, or call : (503) 228-0962 or 1-800-808-3204.

*You’ll need some sort of catalog (not portfolio) showing your work, possibly brochures, business cards, and a price list. Printing costs can get expensive, so I’m usually really greedy with my nice catalogs, and even charge $5.00 for them online. I then take the $5.00 off their first order. Make sure you list TERMS on your invoices and order forms. I came up with my terms by grabbing brochures from other small businesses at wholesale shows. Some inexpensive printers for promotional things: www.overnightprints.com or www.willywalt.com. I’m looking to bring my business to someone local, so please let me know about anyone here in town that you recommend.

*If you decide to start off with a wholesale trade show you will need a booth set-up and a BIG sign with your business name. Your booth is important because you will most likely only have a display space of about 4 by 8 feet. A buyer will walk past you in three steps and miss you if your display does not stand out to them. It is important to display your products professionally, and in an organized fashion. Label and price everything clearly, and avoid hand-written signs (unless you’re really good at making beautiful hand painted signs). The show staff will provide you with many display items for a rental fee, but usually you can purchase and own these items (like tables, shelving, racks etc.) for the same cost somewhere else beforehand. Buyers really like you to talk to them and explain your product. They actually expect you to engage them in talking about your product. A large sign that clearly tells the buyer exactly WHO you are and what you’re selling is important. Try to pick a logo, and overall look for your business and stick with it. Recognition is very important.

Do I need a Rep?

Nope. But you may want to consider one if you’re not good at talking to people, or if you are a very busy person. You will do much better if you are confident and professional about discussing what you’re selling. They say that you’re your own best marketing device because you know your product/artwork inside out, but I’ve seen many anti-social artists undersell themselves because they despise the sales end of what they’re doing. Believe it or not, there’s a ton of people out there who actually enjoy sales and will gladly do it for you (for a cut)!  So where do you find a rep? Well more often than not, the reps will seek you because they believe what you’re doing can make them a good deal of money, and they’ve already seen your product in stores or at a trade show. The only way that I know of how to go about soliciting a rep for yourself is on the bulletins at wholesale shows, and on www.weshows.com. Networking at these trade shows, of course, is very important if you are seeking a rep. Most reps will get around 15-20 percent of the sales they bring in for you. The only time you would pay them on an hourly basis like an employee is to do a wholesale show.  Otherwise they work on commission and only make money when you do. Many reps sell many different product lines that are similar. The nice thing about working with a rep that has experience is that they have a great working relationship with a large variety of stores and their buyers. They already have a foot in the door for you, through the other lines they carry. Reps can also get you into very large chain stores, so know your limitations. If you hand-make your products like cards for example, & you know you can only make 100 whatevers a week, don’t take an order from Walmart  who may order 2,000 whatevers a week.

Resources:

Since you are selling your work at wholesale prices, you’ll need to purchase your supplies on a wholesale basis to keep your costs down. Usually you sell your items wholesale for about half of what you sell them retail for. So if you make cards that retail for $4.00 ea, you want to sell them to buyers, in bulk, for $2.00 each.  Jewelry is often “triple keyed” which mans the buyer will be re-selling it for 3X (or more) what they pay you. So no more little trips to the little “bead store” where they charge triple key for their beads and supplies. No more buying six packs of blank cards. You’ll need to get on line and do research on buying these things in BULK. You will save yourself  a lot of money and increase your profit margin. It seems a little overwhelming at first to spend a lot on the large quantity minimums, but you have to remember how much $$ you’re saving in the long-run. Split large orders with other artists. I’ll share with you many of the resources I found for card and print items, but I don’t know much about other kinds of supplies.

 ~ DISPLAY: Grand & Benedicts:  grand-benedicts.com; 503.232.1988

~ BLANK CARDS: Paper Plus: 835 E Burnside, Portland: 503.238.3607.

~ MATTBOARD, FRAMES, PRESENTATION supplies: Light Impressions: lightimpressionsdirect.com

~ CUSTOM CUT MATS (bulk only): Documounts: 3265 NW Yeon, Portland, OR 97210. 800.769.5639

~ CUSTOM POSTCARDS, CARDS, MAGNETS: cafepress.com, overnightprints.com,  willywalt.com      

~ BOXES (small, for jewelry or boxed cards): RICE Paper Box Co: (303) 825-8287

~ PLASTIC JACKETS FOR PRINTS & CARDS: clearbags.com or associatedbag.com . Both of these companies carry a LOT more than the plastic jackets.

~ NOTE CARD DISTRIBUTER/PRINTER: Starshine Arts:  eternitysky.com

~ S.C.O.R.E.: A non-profit group of retired business professionals who volunteer their time and expertise in aiding small businesses to grow. They offer classes and mentoring on things like: Business Plans, Loans, Networking, etc: score.org or 1-800-634-0245

~DIY LOUNGE: Offers inexpensive classes on things like “Photographing your craftwork”, “Write a business plan Painlessly”, and “Copyright Basics for Artists and Craftspeople”.

diylounge.com

Glory! I started this blog to be able to share my excitement about people and places just like this! Last Thursday, at the behest of my friend, urban cowgirl, mistress of all that is good, and Spiritual Coach Elka Vera, I attended an open house a ActivSpace, aka the 18th and Treat Street Studios, where she has a new office.

And I mean new! Elka is one of 60+ tenants in this brand-spanking new complex erected by Seattle-based ActivSpace at, well, the corner of 18th and Treat Streets in the Mission. It’s an eclectic collection of entrepreneurs, practitioners, craftspeople, retailers, artists, artisans, consultants, designers, galleries, healers and more, all in one place.

Mark your calendar, because this was just the first of many “2nd Thursday Open Houses,” which will happen on, well, the second Thursday of each month from 5:00-8:00pm.

Who do YOU know in the 18th and Treat Street Studios?  Tell us about them!

Fine Maine Artisans Fair at The Retreat French’s at Point on Penobscot Bay in Stockton Springs, Maine. This is a juried event. 

Saturday and Sunday, September 27^th & 28^th 2008 10:00 – 4:00

We are excited to introduce a new venue for high-end Maine craftspeople for the First Annual Fine Maine Artisans Fair at the exquisite Retreat at French’s Point in Stockton Springs, Maine.

French’s Point offers an exquisite setting for you to display, present and vend your fine artistry to members of our community as well as travelers from around the country. We are a waterfront facility with a spacious interior as well as a vast and sizeable exterior to set up your displays and presentations. 

Typically, The Retreat is a reception facility offering a venue for weddings, seminars, corporate meetings, family reunions and receptions.  We are expanding and promoting our facility to accommodate other high-end events, which prompted us to host and promote quality Maine Artisans. French’s Point is located on Penobscot Bay in Stockton Springs, Maine, approximately 20 minutes north of Belfast and 30 minutes south of Ellsworth. 

Facts of Interest:  Juried Show.1, Publicity via radio, press releases, local publications, on-site vendor parking with easy access to both inside and outside areas, Shuttles provided for patrons from designated off-site parking area, general admission fee required from patrons, booth space limited to a maximum of 40 high-end Artisans, electricity and water available, and live Music.

• All applications must be postmarked by August 15, 2008 to be considered.

Please join us as we venture into our first season of hosting this memorable weekend.  We hope you will act quickly in submitting your application and are looking forward to hearing from you.

Thank you for your interest.  Feel free to call us at 207-567-3650 or e-mail gayldion@fairpoint.net with any questions or concerns.

Gay Dion /Jessika Brooks

Julie had a good observation about my NBC post:

Kent’s 12-step program to creative frustration was amusingly stereotypical and as with many stereotypes, bashfully true. … What bothered me most about his list was how it breezed by two of the traditional model’s most valuable aspects: apprentice/mentorship and a paycheck.

Yes old media does provide a paycheck, and I never bemoan anyone in showbiz that takes a job to put food on the table, and there are lot of rank and file that are firmly invested in the status quo of paychecks and not willing or able to gamble on new media.

But what I really want to talk about is apprenticeship in new media.

When I was in college, I worked and performed at a place called the Blue Room Theater. It was awesome. Run by a couple of brothers and a motley crew of underpaid dedicated craftspeople.

Not artists, no.

That was our leader’s motto. We’re not artists, we’re craftspeople. We are crafting entertainment.

We weren’t like the well-heeled theater department across the street. We had to pay our rent, build the sets and get people in the seats all from the money that we made from the tickets and the beers we sold.

There were the effete snobs that sniffed at us for not presenting theatre correctly, about our challenging selection of works (Neil Simon, F**K YOU!), our pandering to the college crowd (late night, beer-soaked rendering of Twilight Zone scripts complete with commercials from local businesses). But you know what? we did it, we made mistakes, we learned, we got better.

This was a learning process through doing. We had a some principles to guide us (keep the doors open, produce plays that we liked), but mostly it was all put together with spit and shoelaces. I helped form the first marketing/public relations plan, as well as, act in over a dozen productions in a two-year span.

There was a lot of experimentation and a lot of room to fail (and we failed a lot). That taught us how to reach audiences and get them in the door and get them coming back.

When I moved back to LA after college, I threw myself into studying improv comedy and learning how to make better films with my iMac and iMovie. I applied what I learned from the Blue Room to my studies, namely learn through actually doing the work. I made so many crappy short films. Showed them to everyone. Watched with them in awkward silence and I knew I had to get better.

Better at everything: editing, writing, directing, you name it. It all sucked. But again I had freedom to fail.

You get three things working your way up from writer’s assistant:

1. Paycheck
2. Friends/commiserators
3. Learning how to survive/thrive in the system

The first two items are invaluable, friends become collaborators and confidants (and occasionally arch enemies and/or lovers), and you’re getting paid to be in the industry.

But learning how to survive the system is only valuable inside the system. Too often the mentorship you find in the system is not about becoming a better craftsperson, but it’s about how to work the system better.

The system also doesn’t reward failure.  With each success comes higher stakes for the next one to be a success.

That doesn’t necessarily teach you how to reach an audience more effectively.  You still need to learn that by doing.

That’s the freedom of new media. No one is blocking your access. You put crappy stuff up, no one will watch it. You put good stuff up, they will. Go ahead and watch your stuff sitting next to someone and tell me you can’t sense when they are bored or engaged. Learn from that.

You’ll pick up mentors along the way. I learned a lot from the working writers on the TV shows where I was the lowest person on the totem pole. But if I had stuck with that route, I don’t think I would have ever broken out (I was a horrible assistant, and you have to work insane hours, which cuts into your own projects).
So gather up your friends and collaborators and start learning what the audience really wants by doing the work.